Political Discussions for "Adults"

SGR · 08-15-2020, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I suspect even Trump knows he can't get that through and would love if it didn't get through so he could point and cry about it. He's just scrambling for anything to get his name in the news that paints him in a non-COVID light and it doesn't matter what it is. I can't remember everything he does or Tweets but that's been the pattern for the last couple weeks at least. It's like he's having a political seizure.

Well, he facilitated a peace agreement between Israel and the UAE - probably specifically for re-election, but it fell mostly on deaf ears. I haven't heard anyone here talk about it. Then again, generally Americans don't give two ****s about foreign policy unless they're directly engaged in a war.

~~jwb~~ · 08-15-2020, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

If it will help his reelection, Trump will do it.

The Democrats are trying to get a more comprehensive bill where as Trump and the Republicans are looking for a symbolic and or short term gesture to make the American people feel like they're trying something. That's why they can't reach an agreement. You would think Trump would benefit from a comprehensive plan but there's still Republican ideology to contend with. They want to severely cut unemployment payments, among other things.

~~jwb~~ · 08-15-2020, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

Well, he facilitated a peace agreement between Israel and the UAE - probably specifically for re-election, but it fell mostly on deaf ears. I haven't heard anyone here talk about it. Then again, generally Americans don't give two ****s about foreign policy unless they're directly engaged in a war.

... Cause who the **** cares? We have real **** to worry about right now.

I mean good for them I guess but the Saudis and Israel have already been in decent enough terms due to their mutual enemy in Iran. Maybe I'm missing something... Was there any lack of peace between Israel and the UAE?

SGR · 08-15-2020, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

... Cause who the **** cares? We have real **** to worry about right now.

Maybe I'm missing something... Was there any lack of peace between Israel and the UAE?

Like I said, most Americans don't give a hoot about foreign policy, but I don't view the agreement as insignificant. I am also not saying that we don't have more pressing issues at home that we should be paying attention to.

As far as I understand it, until this deal, the UAE didn't even formally recognize Israel as a state and they had no public diplomatic or economic relations. They wouldn't allow Israeli citizens or passport holders entry into the UAE. I believe a lot of it was due to the UAE's pro Palestine position. There was an assassination of a UAE official in 2010 that led the UAE to call for an arrest of the director of Mossad via Interpol - I don't know if their suspicions that Israel was involved were ever substantiated, but there was definitely motive for Israel to take him out considering that he was wanted by Israel for the murder of two Israeli soldiers.

I think the pandemic and US sanctions have weakened Iran considerably and that we will see a few changes in the Middle East as countries sense their weakness and become less fearful of pissing them off. Both the UAE and Israel oppose Iran strengthening their position and influence in the Middle East. An enemy of my enemy...

The Batlord · 08-15-2020, 07:44 PM

Yeah all of that sounds... great.

~~jwb~~ · 08-15-2020, 07:52 PM

So I was basically right there's no lack of peace between them and this is a sort of symbolic gesture which isn't unwelcome but also doesn't address some sort of pressing issue?

It's not really hard to see why this isn't big news with everything else going on.

Also, Trump's foreign policy in the middle east has been terrible. Ending the Iran deal and killing Soleimani were the worst US foreign policy moves since 2003. And pulling out of northern Syria the way he did was a huge gift to ISIS and pretty much a stamp of approval on ethnic cleansing of a group who had for decades before been considered a US ally in the region.

OccultHawk · 08-15-2020, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

The Democrats are trying to get a more comprehensive bill where as Trump and the Republicans are looking for a symbolic and or short term gesture to make the American people feel like they're trying something. That's why they can't reach an agreement. You would think Trump would benefit from a comprehensive plan but there's still Republican ideology to contend with. They want to severely cut unemployment payments, among other things.

The Dems propose **** they know won’t pass

I love my dog. If I told my dog she couldn’t eat because I’m holding out for better dog food she’d tell me to just go buy what they got. If I didn’t do that she’d probably think I really didn’t care if she starved.

OccultHawk · 08-15-2020, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

... Cause who the **** cares? We have real **** to worry about right now.

I mean good for them I guess but the Saudis and Israel have already been in decent enough terms due to their mutual enemy in Iran. Maybe I'm missing something... Was there any lack of peace between Israel and the UAE?

A Gulf State making a formal agreement with Israel might end up meaning something. It’s more than a peace agreement. It’s a statement that Palestinians might have to stay in their lane and let a Jew be a Jew. It’s a statement against the regional obsession over there that every inch of the earth needs to be governed by Muslims.

OccultHawk · 08-15-2020, 08:09 PM

Quote:

And pulling out of northern Syria the way he did was a huge gift to ISIS and pretty much a stamp of approval on ethnic cleansing of a group who had for decades before been considered a US ally in the region.

You’re still pretty choked up about the Kurds, huh?

~~jwb~~ · 08-15-2020, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

The Dems propose **** they know won’t pass

I love my dog. If I told my dog she couldn’t eat because I’m holding out for better dog food she’d tell me to just go buy what they got. If I didn’t do that she’d probably think I really didn’t care if she starved.

... Dunno if you read your own article but the Dems and Reps each came up with their own versions of a bill and the Dems were about $2.5 billion above the Reps.

Quote:

In May, Democrats passed a sweeping $3.4 trillion package, but the White House wants a targeted $1 trillion bill; Democrats have said they’re willing to shave $1 trillion off their ask if the Administration will come up $1 trillion (an offer Mnuchin dismissed as a “non-starter”).

The GOP refused to compromise at all. Maybe that's acceptable to you. Maybe cause you're not on unemployment and not otherwise going to be ****ed by the cheap election stunt of a bill the Republicans want to pass - or maybe you just don't see the way you'll be ****ed.

Either way, if you're self centered enough not to care about the people who will be screwed over by setting then **** your free money.

08-15-2020, 07:52 PM	#7116 (permalink)
~~jwb~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 4,403	So I was basically right there's no lack of peace between them and this is a sort of symbolic gesture which isn't unwelcome but also doesn't address some sort of pressing issue? It's not really hard to see why this isn't big news with everything else going on. Also, Trump's foreign policy in the middle east has been terrible. Ending the Iran deal and killing Soleimani were the worst US foreign policy moves since 2003. And pulling out of northern Syria the way he did was a huge gift to ISIS and pretty much a stamp of approval on ethnic cleansing of a group who had for decades before been considered a US ally in the region.